Contemporary Stoicism and Civic Values

The doctoral thesis’s theme, “Contemporary Stoicism and Civic Values”, highlights the potential of an interface between the philosophy of Stoicism and the functioning of the country by strengthening civic values. The aim of the thesis is to offer a vision of how the philosophy of Stoicism, in its contemporary interpretation, can be applied to address topical issues at the national level – strengthening civic values in Latvia. The research (1) identifies the current country’s needs and challenges regarding strengthening civic values; (2) examines the formation and variations of Stoic philosophy and ethics over time, including the most significant criticism of Stoicism, from the origins of the teaching (ancient Stoicism) to the present day (contemporary Stoicism); (3) formulates the interpretation of Stoic philosophy and ethics used in the thesis: what is the ultimate goal of the teaching and the main components of the strategy to achieve it. Based on this understanding of contemporary Stoicism and the identified issues regarding civic values, the thesis (4) explores the potential and limitations of applying contemporary Stoicism to strengthening two core civic values – autonomy and solidarity – in Latvia. However, Stoicism as a philosophical teaching offers a more fundamental transformation and impact on the person than just the cultivation of these two civic values. Stoicism affects the whole personality (character), a person’s worldview and way of thinking, as well as the understanding of the country’s role in a person’s beliefs and actions. These aspects reinforce the effectiveness of Stoicism and, thus, its usefulness to the country in the context of strengthening civic values. The final chapter of the thesis (5) analyzes three case studies that illustrate the applicability of Stoicism in specific areas: regarding care for nature, military service, and character education in schools.